Coronavirus: Tourism Industry Update
Please follow the news reports and for latest advice regularly visit the Public Health Wales website and the Business Wales website
BULLETIN CONTENTS - Wales to introduce travel restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus; City of Bangor – local restrictions; Local Lockdown Business Fund; Fund to support creative freelancers in Wales affected by COVID-19; COVID-19 UK Tourism Consumer Tracker Survey; EU Settlement Scheme; EU Transition Updated Guidance; Help and support if your business trades with the EU; EHRC new guidance – Retailers’ legal responsibility to disabled customers; Protecting vulnerable workers during the coronavirus pandemic; Useful COVID-19 information.
Wales to introduce travel restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus
The Welsh Government is preparing urgent action to prevent people who live in areas with high coronavirus infection rates across the UK from travelling to Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford has confirmed. The action is being taken after the Prime Minister did not respond to the First Minister’s requests to make advisory travel guidance in English coronavirus hotspots mandatory.
Under new regulations being prepared by Welsh Ministers, people living in areas with a high-prevalence of coronavirus in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland would not be able to travel to Wales for the time being. They will help prevent the virus moving from such high-prevalence areas to lower-prevalence communities.
The new restrictions are planned to come into force on Friday October 16 at 6pm. Read the announcement in full on the Welsh Government website.
We are currently updating the Tourism, Hospitality and Retail Frequently Asked Questions and these will be circulated as soon as possible. Please check back regularly for the latest information.
City of Bangor – local restrictions
The new restrictions in Bangor apply to everyone living in eight wards, which make up the City of Bangor. The Welsh Government agreed these measures in discussion with the local authority, Bangor University, the NHS, North Wales Police and public health experts. The restrictions came into force at 6pm on 10 October 2020 and will be kept under review.
Local Lockdown Business Fund
This is a fund to provide financial assistance for businesses that are facing operational and financial challenges caused by the local restrictions imposed in their local area as a result of COVID-19. The purpose of the fund is to support businesses with cash flow support to help them survive the economic consequences of the local restrictions put in place in their local area.
Businesses will be eligible to apply for this fund when their local area has been in lockdown for a minimum of 21 days. Applications will be open for businesses in each local area on or shortly after the 28th day of local restrictions having been in place, and will be administered by your Local Authority. For further information please visit the Business Wales website.
Fund to support creative freelancers in Wales affected by COVID-19
Freelancers working in the cultural and creative sectors in Wales will be able to apply for their share of a £7 million fund – which is targeted specifically at those in the freelance sector hit hardest by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Read more on the Business Wales website.
COVID-19 UK Tourism Consumer Tracker Survey
Visit Wales continues to collaborate with VisitBritain and VisitScotland in running a UK consumer tracker, and the latest results, covering 28 September to 2 October, can be found on the VisitBritain website. The findings indicate a dip in confidence in being able to take a domestic trip in the coming months, the main reason driving falling confidence being ‘restrictions on travel from government’. 18% of UK adults say they have been on a UK overnight trip in September, and Wales was the destination for 10% of UK holidays taken in September. However there has been a fall in those intending to take a domestic overnight trip in October to 10% of UK adults.
A more detailed Wales-focussed report covering 31 August to 2 October will be published on Tuesday 20 October.
EU Settlement Scheme
European citizens are part of the make up of the Welsh tourism and hospitality workforce, therefore we urge all businesses to support their EU employees in making an application to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).
If you employ EU, EEA or Swiss citizens, they, and their families, must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021.
The Welsh Government have partnered with a number of advice services to enable you to assist your European workforce to access the support they may need to apply to the EUSS and help you retain your current workforce. This package of support includes digital support with applications or help with basic queries about eligibility from Citizens Advice. Free specialist immigration advice is also available for people with complex cases delivered by Newfields Law.
Further information about EUSS can be found on the Welsh Government and the UK Government websites.
EU Transition Updated Guidance
The UK has left the EU, and the transition period after Brexit comes to an end this year. Read the updated guidance, including information on the action you need to take regarding data protection and data flows with the EU/EEA after the end of the transition period. You can find more details on the Business Wales website.
Help and support if your business trades with the EU
Learn more about trading with the EU from 1 January 2020.
To buy or sell from the EU your business will need to follow new customs rules or you will not be able to continue to trade. These important actions are required regardless of the outcome of negotiations with the EU and whether or not the UK Government secures a Free Trade Agreement. Find out more on the Business Wales website.
EHRC new guidance – Retailers’ legal responsibility to disabled customers
In response to growing concerns over the accessibility of supermarkets and retailers ahead of a potential second wave of restrictions, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published new guidance to help the industry better assist disabled customers during the pandemic. For further information please visit the Business Wales website.
Protecting vulnerable workers during the coronavirus pandemic
If your business has employees then make sure you consider the risk to workers who are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus and put controls in place to reduce that risk. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance explains what you should do as an employer to protect vulnerable workers during the pandemic. Find out more on the Business Wales website.
Useful COVID-19 information
We realise that it’s sometimes hard to keep up with what is available – the links below will help you find what practical resources and toolkits are there to help you.
Frequently asked questions:
These continue to be updated so please check back regularly for the latest information.
Guidance:
Downloadable assets and Toolkits for your business:
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Keep Wales Safe general resources including posters to download.
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Trace Test Protect toolkit and resources including Record keeping.
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Visit Wales Safely assets including an industry guide, and downloads including posters to help share the Addo (Wales’ Promise) messages and also a specific collection of images that have been carefully selected to reflect open spaces and social distancing. (If it’s the first time that you’ve used the site, it will only take a 1 minute sign up for you to register – as well as the above it gives you access to a huge library of free images and other information). Use #Addo #VisitWalesSafely in conjunction with the UK wide #EscapeTheEveryday (Visit Wales are working on this domestic autumn campaign with delivery partners VisitEngland).
Stay up to date with tourism industry news
We are committed to providing the support and assurance the business community needs during these unprecedented difficult times and have issued several Coronavirus (COVID-19) related bulletins which can be found on the Tourism Industry Coronavirus (COVID-19) Bulletins page.
Business Wales is providing businesses with tailored support and advice about dealing with coronavirus, from financial and supply chain planning to advice on staffing issues. We would advise Tourism businesses and stakeholders in Wales wanting specific guidance to visit the Business Wales website or call Business Wales helpline on 03000 6 03000, and to regularly visit the Public Health Wales website for up-to-date public health information for you, your staff and your visitors.
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